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CHOLERA.
The ss. "Morvada" arrived at Gravesend on the 8th June, 1927, having landed
a case of Cholera at Madras on 6th May, 1927. The patient was a second-class
passenger, who joined the ship at Calcutta. The vessel called at Madras on the
5th May, and the passenger landed. On rejoining the ship the following day he
developed symptoms of Cholera, was diagnosed as such by the ship's surgeon, and
removed at once to hospital at Madras. Pathological investigation confirmed the
diagnosis.
Disinfection of bedding and effects was carried out by Madras Health Authorities
on shore, and the infected cabin disinfected by the ship's officials, special attention
being given to the latrine used by the patient.
All immediate contacts were given anti-cholera vaccine.
On arrival of the vessel at Colombo all fresh-water tanks were emptied, cleansed
and refilled with fresh water.
On arrival of the vessel at Gravesend the whole of the native crew were examined.
No further case occurred.
The ss. "Morea" arrived at Gravesend on the 6th October, 1927, from Shanghai.
Daring the voyage a Lascar died suddenly on board from suspected Cholera. The
crew's quarters were disinfected, also the patient's personal effects, which were sent
back to Bombay. The patient's bedding, &c., were thrown overboard. No further
case occurred.
The ss. "Adrastus," from Yokohama, arrived at Gravesend on the 10th October,
1927. While the vessel was at Yokohama a Chinese fireman died on board. Samples
of the patient's stools were taken, and the diagnosis of Cholera was bacteriologically
confirmed. The ship was placed in quarantine for a week. All the crew were taken
ashore, bathed and inoculated, and their clothing disinfected. The firemen's quarters
and isolation hospital were thoroughly disinfected. No further case occurred.
The ss. "Glenapp" arrived at Gravesend on the 16th November, 1927, having
landed two cases of Cholera at Kobe on the 31st August. The ship was quarantined
at Kobe for 14 days, during which time excreta from all on board was bacteriologically
examined and the ship thoroughly disinfected. No further case occurred.
The bacteriological examination—a precaution against the danger of "carriers"
in the Cholera—is an interesting illustration of Japanese practice in quarantine. The
carrier rate in some epidemics is found to be surprisingly high.
The ss. "Peisander," from Macassar, arrived at Gravesend on the 24th December,
1927, having on board two distressed British seamen, firemen, from the ss. "British
Judge." Both the firemen had been off duty from the 19th to 23rd November, suffering
from Diarrhoea, and on arrivel at Suez, on the 27th November, although then feeling
quite well, they were taken ashore as suspected cases of Cholera. This action on the
part of the Suez Health Authorities was probably due to the fact that the "British
Judge" came from Abadam. There was no recurrence of Diarrhoea while in hospital,
and the men were returned as distressed British seamen per the ss. " Peisander " on
December 9th. No further case occurred.